Till We Meet Again | A Bette-Tina Beginning Chapter 28

“Isn’t it beautiful up here?”

Tina took several deep breathes, her eyes sweeping from one side to another. It was a clear night and they could see miles into the distance from their position at the top of the Empire State Building.

Bette glanced sideways at her profile taking in the moon bathing Tina’s smooth skin in a silver glow.

“Very,” came a breathless whisper.

Tina heard the wonderment and need in Bette’s voice. She glanced at Bette to confirm her suspicions.

“So cliché Bette!” Yet, she blushed. Tina shook her head and moved in front of Bette, only to lean back against her, wrapping herself up in those caramel arms. She sighed softly, content.

“We are at the top of the Empire State Building. That in itself is cliché. I feel like I am in some sort of C-grade overly-sentimental chick flick or an even worse screenplay. It’s amazing how people are drawn to things of such grand and empty stature to create some tiny meaningful moments in their otherwise empty lives. I only hope the lights from up here are energy-efficient. Why are we here Tina?”

“Maybe we have a scene where you profess your undying love for me and fall through the barrier?”

“No, that doesn’t sound right. If I died right now, the readers would be deprived of a fantastic moment where Alice slaps me. And of course, not to mention our all-nighter in a cozy hotel room that everyone is waiting for with baited breathes. You can almost feel the intensity of the collective wait permeating all the way through to here.”

“This is so emotionally draining Bette. Why did it take you so long to find me? Why did it take us so long to find each other? Why now?” Her voice was so low that Bette had to strain to hear. Tina sounded like a lost child.

“The timing wasn’t right Tina. Actually, it may never be ‘right.’ We just have to seize the day. And more than that—there wouldn’t be a plot if everything was smooth-sailing. We may be asked to overcome a lot more obstacles very soon to prove our love for one another, to proof that this is not just an affair. And I’m sure we will pass with flying colors.”

“Flying colors? Maybe this is supposed to be another one of those song-dance sequences where my costumes are supposed to be changing colors every 10 seconds, and we are completely color-coordinated? I think it goes something like ‘life seems to be awake and yet lost in a dreamworld.’”

Bette frowned. “No, I think we decided to skip that and just enjoy an entire day together without any drama.”

“That leaves us with only one other explanation. The writer is unleashing some self-deprecating humor and we are caught in the cross-fire.”

“Right, that must be it. Quick, let’s get out of here. Rewind.”

Location: Henrietta Hudson, a lesbian club in New York City

“I’m so glad you could meet me here. It’s been a while since just the two of us hung out.”

“It certainly has.”

“Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thanks. Maybe later though.”

“Do you have good news for me?”

“Regarding?”

“Certain distractions. Our favourite person for one.”

“All is great on that level. Any news from Alice?”

“She’ll be back the day after tomorrow. I plan to tell her then and be her shoulder to cry on. I should apologize for pushing you. You’ve done a great job. It won’t be much longer.”

“I don’t mind. Anything for our friendship and to repay all that you have done for me. What about Bette? You think she’ll let Alice go?””

“Lets hope so. I don’t want to resort to more drastic measures.”

“It’s sad in a way. She’s really talented as an artist.”

“Really? She must be gyrating on the nerves with all that misplaced anger and bitterness at the world.”

“She isn’t too bad once you get to know her. Really know her.”

“I thought you were the one who said you couldn’t tolerate her and she had to be taught a lesson? You hated the way she treated Alice and the condescending manner in which she spoke to you left a lot to be desired. Don’t tell me her charms have worked on you too?”

“Ha! Never. Are you forgetting I’m straight as an arrow?”

“No, how could I forget that? I remind myself of that each time I come close to hitting on you.”

“I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or bad.”

“Maybe you should try and find out. Care for a dance?”

She was more than a little inebriated.

“Sure.”

At the end of the bar, unbeknownst to the two women, Bette took another long, hard swig of her liquor watching Helena and Tina swaying in each other’s arms on the dance floor.

What had felt like a dream was indeed a dream. But dreams do shatter on contact with reality, and dreams of a perfect love often vanish when faced with the harsh facts of life.

Next Chapter: Tina’s POV

(That is if the writer still lives after this plot twist)